James Raynor Pleads Guilty In 2009 Hartford Killing

HARTFORD — James Raynor, already serving a 37-year prison sentence for shooting a man during the early morning hours of July 25, 2009, pleaded guilty Tuesday to participating in the gang-related murder of another man later that day.

Raynor, 31, took advantage of a deal offered by prosecutors and pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and conspiracy to commit second-degree assault for his role in the killing of Kenneth Carter, 29. Judge Joan K. Alexander then sentenced Raynor to 10 years in prison, which he will run at the same time as his 37-year sentence.

Charges are pending against Kendall Jules, 26, who police say fired the shots that killed Carter the night of July 25, 2009.

Carter was killed because he was selling marijuana in the Money Green Bedroc gang's territory, according to an arrest warrant.

The arrests of Raynor, his brother Donald Raynor, and Jules were among several that resulted from an 18-month grand jury investigation of gang-related violent crime in the North End, according to prosecutors.

A jury convicted Donald Raynor Nov. 17 of being an accessory to first-degree assault and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault for his role in the shooting of Luis Torres earlier on the July 25, 2009. A judge later sentenced him to 37 years in prison.

Raynor's younger brother, Donald Raynor, 29, was sentenced Monday to 60 years in prison for the June 2007 murder of Delano Gray, who prosecutors said was a member of a rival street gang.

Both Raynors and Jules, police say, were principal members of Money Green Bedroc, a violent street gang that controlled the sale of crack cocaine, heroin and marijuana in part of Hartford's North End.